A former governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi has written an open letter to the United States of America, through its Nigerian embassy, seeking the scrapping of the office of the Minister of State for Defence.
In his letter sighted by DAILY POST, the APC chieftain also outlined reason why the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle should be sacked immediately.
Shinkafi noted that it has become necessary for Matawalle to go following the appointment of a new Minister of Defence, General Musa Christopher, who worked under Matawalle as Chief of Defence Staff.
Writing on behalf of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Shinkafi said that the security situation in Nigeria required a courageous, visionary and versatile leader with a military background to head the Ministry of Defence and effectively coordinate the armed forces and crush terrorism, insurgency, banditry, militancy, kidnapping for ransom and other forms of criminality in the country.
DAILY POST reports that Musa was appointed as Defence minister following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Shinkafi feels that to efficiently coordinate and decisively flush out these criminal elements in the country, it is crucial to scrap the office of the Minister of State for Defence and sack Matawalle holding the position.
“It is in national interest to do this immediately so as to strengthen the Minister of Defence in implementing his statutory duties of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Shinkafi letter partly read.
“It has become necessary to unify the Ministry of Defence under one command. This will avoid unnecessary personality clash between the two ministers. More importantly, the incumbent Minister of Defence, General Musa served under the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle when he was Chief of Defence Staff.
“General Musa needs a free hand and power to oversee the defence ministry; restructure and reposition the armed forces in collaboration with Mr President and the service chiefs.
“Mr President has demonstrated his readiness to crush criminal elements in the country. To actualize this, he should further demonstrate the political will to scrap the office of the Minister of State for Defence and sack Bello Matawalle currently holding the portfolio.
“It is obvious that both the said office and its occupant are no longer essential in ensuring national security, safety and order in Nigeria.
“Nigerians have spoken loud and clear demanding the removal of the Minister of State for Defence in main media, on social media and street protests as security is everybody’s business.
“We, therefore, urge you to use your good offices in view of the ongoing diplomatic engagements with the Federal Government to review the operational command and structure of the Ministry of Defence with a view to scrapping the office of the Minister of State for Defence.
“It will be a giant step in consolidating the Ministry’s command system for maximum efficiency, order, stability and direction at this critical state of emergency on security,” he said.